Post-revolutionary choices
I hold two principles as sacrosanct: First, the protection of minorities and their rights from majority bullies by enacting laws that satisfy the majority while preserving the dignity and distinctive religious, cultural, and linguistic freedoms of minorities; Second, to guard against extremist ideology whatever its politics, color, creed, or flavor, whether Christian or Muslim.
Two things need to happen in post-revolutionary Arab countries: First, they need to ensure that no matter what kind of majority takes power, the basic national character of a country never changes. Second, they also need to make sure that laws enacted by extremists with legislative majorities never oppress the silent majorities or detract from their basic human rights including: Their freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, and freedom of cultural and religious practice.
As such, the worrying turn of events in post-revolutionary Arab countries, and the interference of external, regional and extra-regional forces in the internal politics of countries in upheaval may lead to an eventual exodus of minorities and liberal elements from their native lands. This will inevitably happen as the power and influence of well funded and well organized extremist Islamist political parties continue to grow. These parties may wear the garb of moderation for now but their core ideology is unbending.
The risk is great that without first defining what a country’ national character is, without drafting a new social contract with built in safe guards, the peoples of these post revolutionary Arab countries risk sweeping into power determined zealots that will attempt at some point to rip to shreds any social compact that does not meet with their strict doctrinaire interpretation of Islam.
While we do not require instruction from foreign experts on how stable and liberal many of our erstwhile dictators were, we do not lament their loss, nor should we, no matter how tight the Islamist majority noose tightens around our liberal necks! Liberalism requires of us to be all embracing and accepting of others while still standing up for our basic human rights despite prevalent bully tactics. A liberal dictatorship is an oxymoron, and those who believe liberal dictatorship is preferable to the chaos and uncertainties engulfing the region today, are simply wrong.
Islamist parties propagate a single world view as exemplified by hard-line Wahabis, as such they do get funding from certain Gulf countries. The success of Islamist parties in post-revolutionary Arab countries is because they were the most ready and capable of stepping into the political vacuum after the fall of the old order, they were also the most determined, indoctrinated, and unified politically. That will not last forever. People, all people, everywhere are instinctively liberal, and reject ‘straight-jacket’ rule.
You could always pin point the start of any revolution, but when and how it ends is less easy to determine or define. Revolutions start and they expand in multiple directions, some insane or at least ill-advised, from the French to the Russian revolutions, brutality, terror, chaos, upheaval, loss of stability, are defining features. Yet if we were to ask the French what their world would be like had revolution never happened, or the Russians, they would probably say their world would be a lot darker and lot less free. People would still be slaves to ruling elites. Well, some revolutions have evolved more than others, but the point is revolution is simply critical at some historical junctures.
I would not mind Islamic rule, in fact I long for a time long past when people used to weigh their actions against a high moral and religious standard, I long for the days I only read about in history books, days when the Arabs and Muslims were a well spring of knowledge and enlightenment. I long for the rule of Omar bin Abdel Aziz when the leader set the example for humble piety, when the state welfare structure truly made sure no one was left behind. I long for the glory days of Andalusia were Muslim rulers presided over a unique civilization. I do not see any of this coming from the rule of the Islamic parties prevalent in Arab countries today. Religion, sadly, is not the key to building a country: hard work, sacrifice, perseverance are.
Two things need to happen in post-revolutionary Arab countries: First, they need to ensure that no matter what kind of majority takes power, the basic national character of a country never changes. Second, they also need to make sure that laws enacted by extremists with legislative majorities never oppress the silent majorities or detract from their basic human rights including: Their freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, and freedom of cultural and religious practice.
As such, the worrying turn of events in post-revolutionary Arab countries, and the interference of external, regional and extra-regional forces in the internal politics of countries in upheaval may lead to an eventual exodus of minorities and liberal elements from their native lands. This will inevitably happen as the power and influence of well funded and well organized extremist Islamist political parties continue to grow. These parties may wear the garb of moderation for now but their core ideology is unbending.
The risk is great that without first defining what a country’ national character is, without drafting a new social contract with built in safe guards, the peoples of these post revolutionary Arab countries risk sweeping into power determined zealots that will attempt at some point to rip to shreds any social compact that does not meet with their strict doctrinaire interpretation of Islam.
While we do not require instruction from foreign experts on how stable and liberal many of our erstwhile dictators were, we do not lament their loss, nor should we, no matter how tight the Islamist majority noose tightens around our liberal necks! Liberalism requires of us to be all embracing and accepting of others while still standing up for our basic human rights despite prevalent bully tactics. A liberal dictatorship is an oxymoron, and those who believe liberal dictatorship is preferable to the chaos and uncertainties engulfing the region today, are simply wrong.
Islamist parties propagate a single world view as exemplified by hard-line Wahabis, as such they do get funding from certain Gulf countries. The success of Islamist parties in post-revolutionary Arab countries is because they were the most ready and capable of stepping into the political vacuum after the fall of the old order, they were also the most determined, indoctrinated, and unified politically. That will not last forever. People, all people, everywhere are instinctively liberal, and reject ‘straight-jacket’ rule.
You could always pin point the start of any revolution, but when and how it ends is less easy to determine or define. Revolutions start and they expand in multiple directions, some insane or at least ill-advised, from the French to the Russian revolutions, brutality, terror, chaos, upheaval, loss of stability, are defining features. Yet if we were to ask the French what their world would be like had revolution never happened, or the Russians, they would probably say their world would be a lot darker and lot less free. People would still be slaves to ruling elites. Well, some revolutions have evolved more than others, but the point is revolution is simply critical at some historical junctures.
I would not mind Islamic rule, in fact I long for a time long past when people used to weigh their actions against a high moral and religious standard, I long for the days I only read about in history books, days when the Arabs and Muslims were a well spring of knowledge and enlightenment. I long for the rule of Omar bin Abdel Aziz when the leader set the example for humble piety, when the state welfare structure truly made sure no one was left behind. I long for the glory days of Andalusia were Muslim rulers presided over a unique civilization. I do not see any of this coming from the rule of the Islamic parties prevalent in Arab countries today. Religion, sadly, is not the key to building a country: hard work, sacrifice, perseverance are.
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